Confessions of an Orthodox Convert

A New Chapter for Masculine Revival

A New Chapter for Masculine Revival

In January of 2024, a close friend shared that he was considering converting to Catholicism from Protestantism. At the time, we were both Protestant co-hosts of a podcast, often discussing faith. Needless to say, this news was unsettling!

It sparked a personal journey for me to explore why I wasn’t Catholic, which led to an in-depth study of Church history. Before long, I stumbled upon Orthodoxy and became completely captivated. Things began to click, and I realized the real reason I wasn’t Catholic was that I was probably Orthodox!

The Search for Transformation

While historical facts and intellectual arguments drew me to explore Orthodoxy, what truly convinced me was the inner transformation I sensed could be found within the Orthodox Church.

As a Protestant, I had often felt frustrated searching for true guidance on how to live as a Christian and deepen my faith. In Orthodoxy, I discovered a rich spiritual tradition with 2,000 years of history—offering concrete examples of how to think, live, and be.

A Bigger Shift

I only converted to Christianity as a Protestant in early 2022. At that time, it felt like a major change—moving from a non-believer to a believer. But when I compare the transition from Protestantism to Orthodoxy, becoming Orthodox has been an exponentially bigger shift. It feels as though I’m being remade, and that process has often been painful and difficult.

Struggles with Masculine Revival

One of the bigger struggles I’ve faced since my conversion is with Masculine Revival. I’ve felt caught between a rock and a hard place: it has felt inauthentic to keep sharing the same message, much of which no longer resonates with me. On the other hand, I don’t necessarily want to become an online Orthodox apologist either. I’m a private person, and I have little desire to be seen or known. It also feels inappropriate for me to “teach” the Orthodox faith, given that I’ve only been baptized Orthodox for three months.

After much reflection and countless conversations with priests, deacons, friends, family, and my wife, I’ve decided to lean into creating content that feels authentic—content I myself would want to consume. Orthodoxy is where I’m going, and it’s where I’m leading my family. It has been the most profound, life-altering, and transformative thing I’ve ever encountered. To not talk about it would feel foolish.

The Future of Masculine Revival

I understand that Eastern Orthodoxy has far fewer adherents compared to Catholicism and Protestantism, so I expect I may lose some followers as I pivot to this new direction. But I’d rather share what’s real for me than worry about followers or dollars.

That said, not everything I post from here on out will be explicitly Orthodox. I’ll continue to explore topics like masculinity, marriage, gender roles, personal growth, and more, but from new perspectives. This next chapter will focus more on inviting you into my learning and thought processes rather than positioning myself just as a teacher.

Join Me in This New Chapter

I hope you’ll stick with me during this new phase of Masculine Revival. It will certainly be interesting, to say the least!

God bless,
Brendan